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Labuan Bajo Tourism Potentially Reduces Poverty Rate

  • Labuan Bajo Tourism Potentially Reduces Poverty Rate
  • WhatsApp Image 2019-12-23 at 1.14.41 PM
  • WhatsApp Image 2019-12-23 at 1.16.21 PM

Writer :
Putri Ramayudhianty
Editor :
Annisa YH
Translator :
Alif Mufida Ulya

LABUAN BAJO (December 23rd, 2019) - Labuan Bajo, the exotic 'Flores Gate', has become one of the destinations of local and foreign tourist destinations.

"Labuan Bajo is one of four 'super priority' tourist destinations in Indonesia," said the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara in the Socialization Program for the Distribution of the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Aid (BPNT) which took place in the Hall of the Regent's Office West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Ironically, the poverty rate in West Manggarai in September 2018 was recorded at 18.14%, almost double the national poverty rate.

"We do not want people talking about Labuan Bajo everywhere even at the international level, but there are still many disadvantaged people. Going forward, poverty in Labuan Bajo, in West Manggarai must be eroded out," said Ari, the Minister's familiar nickname.

In his speech, the Minister emphasized that the tourist spots most frequently visited by tourists were the first things that had to be given the very first intervention. "Do not let many tourists come to visit, but the people enjoy nothing," said Ari.

Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs is present in West Manggarai, especially in Labuan Bajo, to ensure that people in West Manggarai can get out of poverty. Social assistance (bansos) both PKH, BPNT and other assistance programs are provided to alleviate poverty in West Manggarai.

"In the future, serious efforts in the form of targeted interventions have to go well," said Ari in front of 546 KPM PKH and BPNT, Monday (12/23) local time.

Not only distribution of social assistance and targeted interventions, cooperation between various parties also needs to be improved. Ari said that the task of the Ministry of Social Affairs with several other Ministries such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, to the Ministry of Manpower was to reduce poverty.

Now, the Ministry of Social Affairs has collaborated with various parties, such as BRI, which not only acts as a social assistance agency, but also encourages KPM to become independent entrepreneurs through the People's Business Credit (KUR) program.

Through empowerment efforts, it is hoped that accelerated independent graduation will occur, meaning that KPM PKH and BPNT can be separated from the social assistance program that has been provided by the government.

From January to October 2019, as many as 50,440 KPM PKH in NTT Province had graduated. 14% of the total PKH participants in 2019 successfully graduated.

"If there are KPMs whose lives might be decent, prosperous, they can be replaced by the families who have not received PKH and BPNT. Those who are already prosperous must be dare to resign so that the assistance can be given to other families who are more in need, "said Ari.

Meanwhile, related to poverty data, local governments are encouraged to regularly update data in their areas so that poverty alleviation programs are on target. According to Ari, it is important for leaders to crosscheck directly, go to the field and meet with the community.

If based on the updating data, additional KPM is still needed, said Ari, the Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to add new KPMS in West Manggarai.

The presence of the Ministry of Social Affairs in West Manggarai is expected to be able to encourage poverty alleviation efforts. "In the next 6 months, I hope the poverty rate in West Manggarai has decreased. Let's fight poverty together," said Ari.

Ari gave an example that increasing the ability of English can be one of the efforts to develop human resources. The ability to communicate with tourists is considered to be able to encourage the interest of tourists to visit tourist areas.

"The PKH beneficiaries, would you like to learn English?" asked Ari. The question immediately received a response from the KPM PKH mothers. Simultaneously, they answered "want" at the Bansos Distribution Dissemination Program.

There come at the agenda, Director General of Social Protection and Security, Harry Hikmat, Director General of Poor Handling, Andy Z.A. Dulung, West Manggarai Regent, Agustinus C. Dula, and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkompinda) of West Manggarai Regency. Also present were Ministry of Social partners from channeling banks, BRI Senior Vice President, Taufik Hidayat.

In West Manggarai Regency, the number of underprivileged people who received PKH assistance was 20,070 KPM with a value of 93.2 billion rupiahs and 22,783 KPM BPNT with a value of 10 billion rupiahs. On this occasion, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided a package of food assistance for KPM in attendance with a value of 50 billion rupiahs.

"As of December, total aid that had been distributed was 103.2 million rupiahs. We hope that this assistance can ease the burden on poor people in West Manggarai," said Ari.

On the same occasion, KPM PKH Self-Graduation was also presented with certificates and awards. One of them is Ms. Kristina Lamus, who has owned a livestock and rice mill business, and planted lemongrass for sale to hotels in Labuan Bajo.

The Minister of Social Affairs also provided savings of one million rupiah, a gift from BRI to three high achieving KPM children. One of them is Rubianti, who won the 1st place at the National Science Olympiad (OSN).

Closing his remarks, Ari advised that people in West Manggarai can maintain the sustainability of their area, increase hospitality, guarantee security so that Labuan Bajo will be increasingly visited by tourists in the next. "The more tourists come, the more able the welfare of its people," he said.

Safety in the 'super priority' tourist destination must be guaranteed. "It means, if there is potential for vulnerability, it must be immediately addressed so that it does not widen everywhere. For the most important thing when tourists come to travel is the safety," said Ari.

After carrying out the socialization, Minister of Social Affairs, Ari visited the KPM PKH independent entrepreneur, Gerda Lulut, who is a rice trader in Batu Cermin Market, to give BRI KUR worth 50 billion rupiahs to develop her business.
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